mai1 gaa1咪家
Jyutpingmai1 gaa1
Yalemāi gā
Definition
A student who studies relentlessly day and night.
colloquialschoolpeople
How it's used
Describes someone who is obsessed with studying to the point of social isolation. It carries a slightly negative or mocking tone, implying the person lacks a social life or is overly focused on academic achievement. It is specifically used for students rather than adults working on professional tasks.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He always hides in his room studying day and night.
Related words
Common phrases
to study by rote without understanding
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 咪, which is a common particle used to mean don't or to soften a command. Using 咪家 in a formal setting or professional context will sound inappropriate and rude.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
